24 THE COMMON TROUT. 



pure and cold with a pebbly or rocky bottom, and is 

 therefore found in the greatest numbers as well as 

 perfection in the rapid streams among mountains. 



Like the salmon, the trout swims with much ve- 

 locity. The activity and strength of this fish is as- 

 tonishing : at the commencement of the spawning 

 season, in defiance of numerous obstacles, it rushes 

 up rivers difficult of access, in search of the most 

 retired spots to deposit its spawn ; and in its pro- 

 gress^ will leap to the height of four or five feet, 

 over stones and other impediments in the course of 

 the stream. The food of the trout consists of small 

 fishes, testaceous animals, and flies which they 

 catch by leaping out of the water ; such as the 

 Ephemeres, and Phryganeae, which hover near the 

 surface. The spawning season is from October 

 to the end of November, or later ; the eggs are 

 about the bigness of a pea, and of a bright orange 

 colour. 



With regard to size, the trout varies greatly ; its 

 ordinary length is about twelve inches. Those 

 of Ireland, called by the natives Buddaghs, are 

 found of a large size in Lough Neagh ; and have 

 been known to weigh thirty pounds. 



About forty years ago, a trout was caught in the 

 Thames near Hampton, which measured two feet 

 nine inches from the tip of the nose to the end of 

 the tail. Another individual of the common species 

 little inferior to this, taken out of a rivulet near 

 Edinburgh, was for a considerable period preserved 

 in the museum of that city ; a third specimen weigh- 



